Anion-binding-induced and reduced fluorescence emission (ABIFE & ABRFE): A fluorescent chemo sensor for selective turn-on/off detection of cyanide and fluoride

A new nitrile vinyl linked ultrafast receptor to track cyanide ions: Utilization on realistic samples and HeLa cell imaging

A simple D - A (donor - acceptor) type receptor ((2E, 2'E)-3, 3'-(10-octyl-10H-phenothiazine-3,7-diyl)bis(2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)acrylonitrile)) (PBTA) containing nitrile-vinyl linkage was designed and completely characterized. The receptor PBTA detects CN^- ions based on "turn-off" effect with admirable spectral properties. It also owns some of the merits like "naked-eye" color change, ultrafast response (90 s), lowest detection limit (1.25 × 10^-10 M) as well as quantitation limit (4.17 × 10^-10 M) with the pH range 4-11 which is more suitable pH to make use of the receptor PBTA in physiological medium. The instant detecting ability of the receptor over CN^- ions was proved using paper test strip and cotton balls. Further, the utilization of the receptor PBTA was also extended to track CN^- ions in realistic samples (water and food samples) and in HeLa cells bioimaging.

Naked-eye colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent Schiff base sensor for cyanide and aluminum (III) detection in food samples and cell imaging applications

A new efficient Schiff base sensor SB3 for fluorescent and colorimetric "naked-eye" "turn-on" sensing of cyanide anion (CN^-) with excellent sensitivity and selectivity was developed. The 4,4'-(perfluoropropane-2,2-diyl)bisphenol group and two phenyl groups were covalently linked by two C = N bonds to extend the conjugation length. The four hydroxyl groups can improve the water solubility of the SB3 sensor. The SB3 sensor exhibited high specificity towards CN^- by interrupting its intramolecular charge transfer, resulting in a color change and remarkable "turn-on" green fluorescence emission. The sensing mechanism is caused by the nucleophilic addition of CN- toward imine groups of the SB3 sensor, leading to breaks of the conjugation, fluorescent spectral changes, and color change. It was confirmed by ¹H NMR titration and Mass spectra. The detection limits for CN^- and Al³⁺obtained by fluorescence spectrum are 0.80 µM and 0.25 µM, respectively. The SB3 sensor can act as an efficient chemical sensor for detecting the CN^- and Al³⁺ ions under common environmental and physiological conditions (pH 5-12). Besides, the sensor can also detect CN^- in food materials (such as sprouting potatoes and cassava flour) and imaging CN^-in living cells with strong "turn-on" fluorescence at 490 nm. SB3 is an excellent CN^- sensor that exhibits some advantages, including easy synthesis, distinct fluorescence and color change, high selectivity, low detection limit, and good anti-interference ability to analyze solution and food samples, together with fluorescence cell imaging.

Studies of cyanomethylcarbamoyl-bridged anthracene and pyrene fluorophores

Cyanomethylcarbamoyl-bridged anthracene and pyrene derivatives were prepared as functional fluorophores with diverse structural, electronic, and fluorescence properties.